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Quick takeaways
- Crow tribe maintained cultural beliefs amidst European colonization through spiritual practices like sweat lodge and vision quests.
- Warfare was central to Crow culture due to competition for resources, leading to strategic adaptations and alliances.
- Historical accounts sensationalized Plains tribes' warfare and captives, contrasting with nuanced interactions of integration and peace.
- European diseases inflicted severe population decline on the Crow, reshaping their society and cultural practices drastically.
- Joe Medicine Crow's journey from facing racism to becoming a WWII hero and preserving Crow history epitomized dual cultural identity.
Deep dives
Cultural Traditions and Beliefs among the Crows
The Crow tribe, faced with the impact of European colonization, held onto their cultural beliefs and traditions, including spiritual ceremonies such as the sweat lodge, smoking the pipe, and vision quests. Their beliefs centered around interactions with spirits and obtaining prophecies or spiritual powers through visions. They placed a high value on individual freedom within the tribe, with leaders having no coercive power but instead gaining influence through respect and shared values.
Warfare and Survival Strategies of the Crow Tribe
The Crow tribe faced constant warfare against enemy tribes like the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Blackfeet due to competition for hunting grounds and resources on the Great Plains. Warfare was a central aspect of their culture and survival, with men being encouraged to engage in war deeds to gain honor and respect. The constant pressure from European colonization forced the Crow to adapt their strategies and alliances to ensure their existence.
Misrepresentation of Native American History
The portrayal of warfare and captives in the Plains tribes in certain historical accounts, like in 'The Heart of Everything That Is,' is criticized for sensationalized and inaccurate descriptions of torture and violence. Contrary to these portrayals, accounts from individuals like Tom La Forge and Pretty Shield highlight a more nuanced and peaceful interaction with captives, often leading to integration and adoption within tribes. The sensationalized accounts in some historical literature misrepresent the realities of tribal life and warfare on the Great Plains.
Impact of European Diseases and Demographic Catastrophe
The Crow tribe, like other Native American populations, suffered significantly from European diseases such as smallpox and measles, leading to a drastic reduction in their population. The demographic catastrophe caused by these diseases, in addition to colonial pressures, reshaped Crow society and cultural practices. The loss of significant portions of their population due to diseases had far-reaching consequences on their communities and way of life.
Crow Culture and Tough Lifestyle
The podcast delves into the tough and active lifestyle of the Crow people, highlighting the challenges they faced living as nomadic hunters on the plains. The Crow children were taught toughness from a young age, engaging in activities like running, swimming, wrestling, and hunting. The tribe emphasized resilience to endure harsh conditions, with individuals being trained to face challenges such as cold exposure.
Crow Scouts in Historical Battles
The episode discusses the significant role played by Crow scouts in historical battles, particularly during conflicts with other tribes and involvement in wars against the Lakota and Cheyenne. Crow scouts were instrumental in providing intelligence and support during wartime campaigns, showcasing bravery and strategic skills. Their collaboration with American soldiers in key battles like the Rosebud demonstrated their vital contributions to military operations.
Cultural Changes and Challenges on Reservations
The narrative shifts towards exploring the assimilation process and challenges faced by the Crow people upon settling on reservations and encountering government assimilation policies. The forced changes disrupted traditional cultural practices such as ceremonies, language, and lifestyle. The episode highlights the loss of land, decline in cultural practices, and struggles with adaptation to new ways of life, leading to cultural erosion and socio-economic challenges within the community.
Joe Medicine Crow's Experience with Racism and Bullying in School
Joe Medicine Crow encountered racism and bullying in school where white children made fun of him for being Crow, resulting in a traumatizing experience with a girl using a safety pin to repeatedly prick him. Despite his great grandmother's help and a compassionate teacher's intervention, the racial tensions remained high between the Native American children, maintaining their own barriers and punishing each other for trying to speak English.
Joe Medicine Crow's Remarkable Achievements in Education and War
Joe Medicine Crow's academic journey led him to become the first male Crow to graduate college and subsequently earn a master's degree. His exceptional valor in World War II, where he displayed bravery by touching an enemy in battle, disarming an opponent, leading missions, and capturing horses, showcased his extraordinary feats. Following his impactful military service, he dedicated his life to preserving Crow history and tradition, embodying a dual cultural identity that blended Native American values with modern American life.
“Reflecting upon the chiefs I had known, I realized that here had never been one who was very well off. Poverty was part of a chief’s obligations…” Frank Bird Linderman
Plenty Coups “While we painted ourselves the drums kept beating, and our women sang war-songs. No man can feel himself a coward at such a time. Every man that lives will welcome battle while brave men and women sing war-songs. I would have willingly gone alone against our enemies that day.” Plenty Coups
“To be alone with our war-horses at such a time teaches them to understand us, and us to understand them. My horse fights with me and fasts with me, because if he is to carry me in battle he must know my heart and I must know his or we shall never become brothers. I have been told that the white man, who is almost a god, and yet a great fool, does not believe that the horse has a spirit. This cannot be true. I have many times seen my horse’s soul in his eyes.” Plenty Coups
"The story of Joseph Medicine Crow is something I've wanted to tell for 20 years." Ken Burns
“I felt good. I was a Crow warrior. My grandfathers would have been proud of me.” Joe Medicine Crow
Lakota history has been the subject of many episodes of History on Fire. Today, however, we’ll see history through the eye of their traditional enemies, the Crow. Part of the episode will cover the history and culture of the Crow nation up to the late 1800s. The other part will move into the 1900s and follow the tale of Joe Medicine Crow, the last man to achieve the status of war chief of the Crow Nation thanks to the coups he counted during WWII against the Nazi. The fact that Joe Medicine Crow’s story has not been made into a movie is a crime. I can’t fix that, but at least I can dedicate a podcast to him.
If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/historyonfire to access plenty of bonus content.
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